Siesta Beach to get more parking - but how much?

Published: Monday, July 25, 2011 at 3:45 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, July 25, 2011 at 3:45 p.m.

The parking squeeze at Siesta Key Public Beach will be a top concern on Tuesday as Sarasota County Commissioners grapple with a $20 million improvement plan for the area's most popular beach complex.

Plans for the beach include a 15-foot-wide esplanade that would run along the edge of the parking lot. The esplanade would add a new element for walkers and bikers, but it would also gobble up as many as 100 parking spaces. Including the esplanade, the plan calls for 103 new parking spaces to be added to the beach for a total of 940 spaces. Elimination of the esplanade could push the number of parking spaces over 1,000.

Commissioners have $8 million set aside for renovating the beach complex between now and 2014, so big changes will likely be put off for later years. In the short term, commissioners have said that expanding a retention pond maintained by the county and making other drainage improvements at the site will likely be their first priority.

Siesta Key beach improvements and parking are scheduled to be discussed by the county commission on Tuesday afternoon sometime after 1:30 p.m.

<p>The parking squeeze at Siesta Key Public Beach will be a top concern on Tuesday as Sarasota County Commissioners grapple with a $20 million improvement plan for the area's most popular beach complex.</p><p>Plans for the beach include a 15-foot-wide esplanade that would run along the edge of the parking lot. The esplanade would add a new element for walkers and bikers, but it would also gobble up as many as 100 parking spaces. Including the esplanade, the plan calls for 103 new parking spaces to be added to the beach for a total of 940 spaces. Elimination of the esplanade could push the number of parking spaces over 1,000.</p><p>Commissioners have $8 million set aside for renovating the beach complex between now and 2014, so big changes will likely be put off for later years. In the short term, commissioners have said that expanding a retention pond maintained by the county and making other drainage improvements at the site will likely be their first priority.</p><p>Siesta Key beach improvements and parking are scheduled to be discussed by the county commission on Tuesday afternoon sometime after 1:30 p.m.</p>